Estonian Coastline

Did you know…?

The local Russian community has a tradition of attaching a padlock to the platform on the wedding day and throwing the key into the ravaging waters. It’s believed to make the marriage as strong as iron.

Valaste waterfall

The Valaste waterfall is not only the highest in Estonia but in all the Baltic States.

It’s located along the Ontika cliff, which is 56 m high, and has a fall of 30.5 m.

Stories about Valaste waterfall go back to 1840, when a German newspaper (Das Seebad Chudleigh) wrote about Valaste and its beauty, recommending that everybody should see it.

The Valaste River, feeds the waterfall, is also known as "the big ditch" by locals. There’s a legend about a man named Kraavi Jüri (Ditch-George) who dug the ditch generations ago, thus creating the Valaste River and Waterfall. The legend is partially true – the Valaste River was artificially created in the course of draining works but the waterfall itself is purely the creation of mother nature.

The Valaste waterfall is most impressive in early spring; then, the winter snow is melting and volume of cascading water is greatest. During winter the waterfall freezes and forms fairy-tale like ice sculptures.

In 1996, the commission of the Academy of Science declared the 25-metre high Valaste waterfall a natural heritage site and a national symbol. In 2003, the new record height of the waterfall- 30.5 metres - was approved.

In 1997, a platform for tourists was built opposite the waterfall. There is a car park, some explanatory signs and a trail using a double spiral staircase to get down the cliff where you can explore how Estonia looked about 80 million years ago.

Valaste is not only appealing to geologists but also to people who appreciate something where nature and mankind have made something great and unique together.